Game apparatus



Jan. 15, 1963 Filed Jan. 6, 1960 s. A. BAlLLO 3,073,601

GAME APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

SAM A. BA |u o \rdlvsoN, LEms MCRAE ATTORNEYS Jan. 15, 1963 s. A. BAlLLO3,073,601

GAME APPARATUS Filed Jan. 6, 1960 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 1N VEN TOR. SAM A BAILLO N\LsoN,LEwl$ FMcRAE ATTORNEYS United States 3,073,661 Patented Jan.15, 1963 This invention relates to game apparatus, and particularly toan arrangement wherein provision is made for containing apparatus usefulin the playing of several different games. The arrangement isparticularly characterized by the provision of a gameboard havingindicia thereon for facilitating the positioning of slidable playerpieces such as circular discs, the various discs being arranged into twoopposing teams, and the object of the game being for each of the playersto manually slide the discs of his team along the gameboard surface soas to strike the opponents discs and direct them into a peripheralpocket area. The winner of the game is the player who successfullydrives the opponents discs off of the board into the pocket area.

It will be seen from the above discussion that the gameboard forming onecomponent of the apparatus is of such character that considerable skillsare attained in the playing of the game. Thus the game is more than amere game of chance and is accordingly relatively more'enjoyable for theplayers due to the keenness of competition involved in the striving forproficiency in skills.

Preferably the slidable disc game is removably arranged on astorage-forming base structure having the aforementioned peripheralpocket area therein arranged .to conveniently receive the discs as theyare thrown off of the gameboard. The gameboard is arranged centrallywithin the base structure so as to overlie a storage space for thediscs. In order to provide variety in play the base structure andgameboard are preferably arranged with respect to one another such thatadditional gameboards can be accommodated within the base structurearea. The additional gameboards can be of various dimensions and can bemarked off to play any of several games, as for example backgammon,chess, Chinese checkers, etc. The arrangement of the base and variousgameboards is such that the gameboards can be interchangeably positionedwith respect to one another within the base, with a desiredvone of theboards uppermost in the series so as to permit the playing of anydesired game. By this arrangement a single base structure can .beemployed to operatively mount each of the various ,gameboards and tostore the counter devices, discs and other paraphernalia utilized inplaying of the various games.

From the above brief discussion it will be appreciated that one of theprimary objects of the present invention is to provide a game apparatus,including a three dimensional base and series of gameboards, wherein theboards can be stored within the base during periods of non-use andwherein any one of the gameboards can be positioned atop the othergameboards within the base to permit playing of any desired game.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved base-gameboardarrangement wherein the base provides a storage space for containment ofthe apparatus utilized with the gameboards.

A further object of the invention is to provide a base structure andgameboard arrangement wherein a peripheral trough area or pocket area isdisposed adjacent outer peripheral edge portions of the board to receivediscs dislodged from the gameboard in the playing of a game thereon,thereby enabling the discs to be conveniently collected during theprogress of the game and preventing them from being lost or mislaid.

- 0 A further ob ect of the invention is to provide a game- 7 board-baseconstruction of the above-mentioned charac- 2. ter wherein the basedefines a peripheral trough area having a portion thereof extendingabove the level of the gameboard so as to provide a peripheral back stopwall for deflecting the flying discs into the subja-cent portions of thetrough structure.

In conjunction with the above-mentioned object, it is w an ancillaryobject to provide a back stop wall having a declined configuration suchthat the discs in striking the wall are automatically directeddownwardly rather than being allowed to deflect upwardly and away fromthe trough.

A general object of the invention is to provide a game apparatus,including a base and series of gameboards, wherein various differentgames such as backgammon, Chinese checkers, poker, and deflectable-discgames may be played using common features of the base.

An additonal object is to provide an apparatus of the above-mentionedtype wherein the various gameboards and base may be readily clampedtogether in the non-use positions so as to permit their convenientstorage without possibility of certain game components being lost,mislaid, damaged, etc.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the fol lowingdescription and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings forming a part of this specification wherein like referencecharacters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of a base structure utilized in oneembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken through two gameboards employed in oneembodiment of the invention, with the gameboards having registeringrecesses and locator projections therein for facilitating theirpositionment on one another and on the base shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the FIG. 1 base, showing the FIG. 3gameboards arranged thereon;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view showing components utilized in constructionof the base shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken substantially on the same line as FIG.2 but showing the FIG. 3 gameboards installed thereon;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the FIG. 6 assembly, showing the use ofa rubberband-like strap for retaining the gameboards in a locked storageposition within the base; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a slidable disc which maybe employed inplaying a game with the FIG. 6 apparatus.

Before explaining the present invention in detail, it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited in its application to thedetails of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of otherembodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. Also,it

part by the upstanding walls of particular utility in storing such itemsas poker chips, checkers, dice, cards, spinners, discs, chessmen andother also serve to define the storage area indicated generally bynumeral 23. The storage area is 3 paraphernalia employed in the playingof games on boards 30 and 31.

In order to reinforce the base structure walls 12 through 15 and 19through 22 there may be provided a series of ribs 24, said ribs havingdepressed upper edges as at 25 for a purpose to be clear later.

Storage area 23 is preferably compartmented by the two diagonallyextending walls 26 and 27, said walls being thickened in the areas 28thereof to form material for defining the sockets 29.

The walls 19 through 22 define a substantially square area within thetrough structure 18 for receiving either one of the game boards 30 or31. Each of these gameboards is formed with a plurality of downwardlyextending locator pin portions 32 and a plurality of upwardly facingrecesses 33, the arrangement being such that either board can bepositioned in the upper central portion of the base with its locatorpins 32 seated within the various sockets 29.

It will be appreciated that boards 30 and 31 are interchangeable suchthat either may be positioned uppermost in the series. Of course ifdesirable, the board not in current use may be discarded and stored insome area remote from the base; however for convenience the nonusedboard can be stored below the board currently in use, as for example asshown in FIG. 6. The boards may be of different sizes if desired, and ofcourse any suitable number of boards may be utilized.

Referring to FIG. 4, the board 31 there shown is marked otf with twolines 40 and 41 interconnected by a third line 43 to define a firstcourt area 42 for receiving sixteen slidable discs 50 of the type shownto an enlarged scale in FIG. 8. These discs may be of the size of theconventional checkers and may be positioned within court area 42 on thevarious locator spots identified by numerals 39. A second court area 44is defined by the marking lines 45, 46 and the interconnecting line 43.When the game is being played by two people each of the playerspositions his sixteen discs (preferably of different colors) in one ofthe court areas 42 or 44. As explained previously, the object of thegame is for one player to propel a selected one of his discs against thediscs of the opponent so as to dislodge the opponents discs from thegameboard and into the peripheral trough structure 18.

One of the players (termed the attacker) begins the play by shooting oneof his discs toward the discs of the opponent (termed the defender).When the attacker misses a shot he becomes the defender and the opponentbecomes the attacker. Preferably the three discs located in the firstrow of the defenders discs (designated by the numeral 48) arearbitrarily designated as guard discs, i.e., these discs cannot be usedas targets in the initial stages of the playing of the game. Also, thediscs in the first row of the attackers discs (row 48a) must be utilizedas the shooter discs in the initial stages of the game. Thus in playingthe game the one starting the game places his finger behind any one ofthe discs in row 48a and snaps his finger against the disc edge so as topropel it toward one of the opponents discs located in a row in back ofthe opponents row 48, i.e., he cannot direct his propelling disc againstthe opponents first row 48 of guard discs. If the attacker successfullypropels his first disc against a disc 50 of the defender and dislodgesit into the trough 18, he then propels either of the remaining discs inhis row 48a toward one of the other discs in the opponents rearward rowsof discs, the object being to dislodge at least one of the defendersdiscs into the trough with each shot. If the starting player fails todislodge any of the opponents discs into the trough then the defenderbecomes the attacker and shoots discs from row 48 against the firstplayers discs in the back rows. When the first row of discs in theattackers array has been shot he is then free to shoot one of the discsin the rear rows. The players alternate after each missed shot until oneof the players has no more discs left on the board. The other player isthen declared the winner. The players may keep count of the number ofgames each has won by utilizing counting pegs 51 in conjunction with theopenings 53 in walls 13 and 15. Thus, as each player wins a game headvances his peg 51 to the next opening 53 in his series.

In playing the game it has been found that certain rules are desirablein order to maintain a desired degree of skill on the part of theplayers and to make the game of suflicient length that each player hasan opportunity to shoot his discs during the game. Thus, as previouslyexplained, in the early stages of the game one player cannot shoot hisdiscs against the first row of the opponents discs. Also, each playermust shoot discs from his first row of discs before utilizing any of hisother discs. Further, under the preferred rules of the game each playeris precluded from shooting his discs against any of the opponents discslocated in his court until his court is free of his own discs, i.e.,each player must trade shots between courts rather than shooting withina single court. In this manner each of the shots is of relativelygreater length as compared with the dimension of the board, and thenecessary accuracy skills are accordingly increased.

In playing the game a considerable speed can be given to the discs witha snapping motion of the player's fingers, and accordingly it isdesirable to provide a trough structure such as trough 18 in order totrap the discs and prevent them from flying olf indiscriminately aboutthe room during the course of the game. As will be seen from FIGS. 2 and6, the peripheral wall of the base is inclined at an angle 16. Thisinclination is effective to deflect the flying disc downwardly into thetrough instead of allowing it to bounce back onto the gameboard or flyoff and over the top edge of the peripheral wall 17. The reinforcementribs 24 are provided with the recessed upher edges 25 so that they willnot form ski slopes for allowing the discs to slide off and over the topedges of the peripheral walls. In actual practice the game has beenfound to perform remarkably andwith consistent trapping of the discs,even at relatively high disc speeds.

The previous description of gameboard 31 has centered on the use thereofby two players in playing the game. It should be noted however that thegameboard ismarked in such a way that four players can also play thegame if desired. In this connection it will be noted that marked lines40 and 45 define a triangular court 52. Similarly, lines 41 and 46define a second triangular court 52a. In like manner lines 54 and 55define a triangular court 56. Additionally lines 57 and 58 define afourth triangular court 59. Each of these four triangular courts hasmarked spaces therein for positioning six discs. Courts 56 and 59 arelocated within the previously mentioned courts 42 and 44, and when thegameboard is used by four players the areas of courts 42 and 44 outsideof court areas 56 and 59 are not used.

The game is played in similar manner as when two players play, i.e., oneplayer drives one of his discs against any of the opponents discs andattempts to dislodge the opponents disc into the surrounding troughstructure. He continues shooting until he misses, either by entirelymissing the opponents disc, hitting the opponents disc withoutdeflecting it into the trough, or driving his own disc into the trough.The game is won when only one of the players has discs remaining on theboard. He is declared the winner.

It has been previously pointed out that gameboards 30 and 31 areinterchangeable. Board 30 may have any suitable indicia thereon,depending on the type of gam which it is desired to play therewith. Thusthe gameboard can be marked oflf to permit playing chess or checkers,Chinese checkers, backgammon, etc. Since the markings for these gamesare well known in the art the drawings herein have not been amplified toshow these conventional markings.

In addition to the games requiring markings on the boards, theillustrated apparatus can also be utilized to play card games such aspoker which do not require any markings on the playing surface. Thus aplain game- 'board may be provided for the playing of poker or othercard games. In the playing of such card games the peripheral troughstructure 18 provides a series of compartments for the ready receptionof poker chips or counters, etc.

The previous discussion has been directed to the structure and functionof the apparatus, irrespective of the materials utilized in itsformation. It is contemplated that any of several materials can beemployed in fabrieating the various structures and components, amongwhich may be mentioned wood, sheet metal, paperboard, and plastic. Whenthe illustrated base structure is formed of plastic, one preferredmethod is to form it as a two-piece assembly as illustrated by FIG. 5.Thus referring to FIG. 5, the peripheral walls 12 through 15 are formedas an annular plastic molding 6i), and the remaining portions of thebase are formed as a second plastic molding 61. The two moldings maythen be secured together by any convenient means such as gluing, orcontrolled solvent application, or heat applica;

tions, etc. I

It will be seen that the illustrated assembly is particularly adapted tothe convenient playing of several different games using the common base.The central compartment area 23 of the base serves as a convenientstorage area for chips, dice, marbles, discs, or other paraphernaliaemployed in the playing of the various games. The various gameboards arepreferably retained on the base in a secure manner during periods ofnon-use in order to retain the paraphernalia within area 23 and in orderto prevent loss or mislaying of the boards. For this reason there ispreferably employed a clamping device such as the rubberband 65 shown inFIG. 7. This band is provided with loop portions 66 at its opposite endswhich fit over pins 67 carried by walls 1.9 and 21. By the use of band65 the entire assembly can be carried from place to place and set up ona moments notice ready for play. If desired, the base may be providedwith self-contained folding legs so as to obviate the need for aseparate subsurface such as a table or the like.

During the above description the device has been described inconsiderable detail, particularly with respect to the structure andarrangement of preferred components. However, it will be appreciatedthat various modifications and redesigns of parts may be resorted toWithout departing from the spirit of the invention as defined in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In game apparatus,

a base having a bottom Wall,

an inner upstanding annular wall carried on said bottom wall andcooperating therewith to defin a central storage area for gameparaphernalia,

an outer upstanding annular wall carried on the peripheral edge of thebottom wall to cooperate with said inner wall in defining an annulargame piece trough around said storage area,

6 a plurality of upstanding game board support pillars positioned withinsaid storage area and defining socket-forming recesses in their uppersurfaces, said pillars being equal in height to said inner wall, saidouter wall being of a height greater than said inner wall and pillars,and a game board having projections engageable with said pillar socketsto be held in place above said storage area.

2. The combination of claim 1 and further comprising pins projectingfrom the inner annular wall into different portions of the trough; andan elongated resilient strap having loop-shaped end portions adapted tolock onto the pins, with the central portion hereof snugly engaging theupper surface of the game board to hold the game board in place On thebase during non-use periods.

3. In a game apparatus, a flat, generally square base having an uppersurface, a peripheral wall surrounding said base and extending abovesaid upper surface, said wall slanting inwardly toward the center ofsaid base, a plurality of game board supports formed on said base andpositioned on said upper surface within the confines of said wall, saidsupports being of lesser height than said wall, partitioning ribs formedon said upper surface of said base and interconnecting said supports andsaid peripheral wall, and game board index means formed on saidsupports, whereby a game board is adapted to be positioned on saidsupports below the top of said wall and out of peripheral contact withsaid wall.

4. In a game apparatus, a first molding comprising a flat generallysquare base having an upper surface and an outer periphery, an endlessinner wall formed integral ly with said base upper surface andpositioned inwardly of said periphery, a plurality of pillar-like gameboard supports formed on said base upper surface within said endlessinner wall, and connecting walls extending be tween said supports andsaid endless inner wall, said endless inner Wall and said connectingwalls being of common height, a second molding comprising an endlessouter wall adapted to extend around the periphery of said base, andhaving an inward slant from bottom to top, and being of a height greaterthan said inner wall, said supports and said connecting walls, saidsecond molding being superimposed on said base and secured thereto, andwebs extending between said inner wall and said outer wall, said webshaving inner portions common to the height of said inner wall and havingouter portions extending to the height of said outer wall and conformingto the inner profile of said outer Wall.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS250,458 Shay Dec. 6, 1881 715,794 Haskell Dec. 16, 1902 753,561 EdmundsMar. 1, 1904 847,655 Davidson Mar. ,19, 1907 2,344,737 Schlesinger Mar.21, 1944 2,655,381 Ferling Oct. 13, 1953 2,848,237 Svejnoha Aug. 19,1958

1. IN GAME APPARATUS, A BASE HAVING A BOTTOM WALL, AN INNER UPSTANDINGANNULAR WALL CARRIED ON SAID BOTTOM WALL AND COOPERATING THEREWITH TODEFINE A CENTRAL STORAGE AREA FOR GAME PARAPHERNALIA, AN OUTERUPSTANDING ANNULAR WALL CARRIED ON THE PERIPHERAL EDGE OF THE BOTTOMWALL TO COOPERATE WITH SAID INNER WALL IN DEFINING AN ANNULAR GAME PIECETROUGH AROUND SAID STORAGE AREA, A PLURALITY OF UPSTANDING GAME BOARDSUPPORT PILLARS POSITIONED WITHIN SAID STORAGE AREA AND DEFININGSOCKET-FORMING RECESSES IN THEIR UPPER SURFACES, SAID PILLARS BEINGEQUAL IN HEIGHT TO SAID INNER WALL, SAID OUTER WALL BEING OF A HEIGHTGREATER THAN SAID INNER WALL AND PILLARS, AND A GAME BOARD HAVINGPROJECTIONS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID PILLAR SOCKETS TO BE HELD IN PLACEABOVE SAID STORAGE AREA.